California Conservative

Networks are standing by. Bloggers are, too.

Michelle Malkin has a round-up of those liveblogging from the Capitol.

6:08PM PST: President Bush enters…

6:11PM PST: Introduction. Applause…

6:12PM PST: President Bush reflects on death of Coretta Scott King

“We have served America thru one of the most consequential periods of our history.”

“We love our freedom and we will fight to keep it.” (Applause)

“There is no peace in retreat…the US will not retreat from the world…and we will never surrender to evil.” (Applause)

AMEN!

6:26PM PST: NOTE: Realization…no point in quoting what will be published as a full transcript upon the completion of speech. Will provided commentary/analysis to follow. Now, sitting back to relax. [6:38PM PST: Here it is]

6:27PM PST: President Bush honors family of fallen soldier. Gallery provides standing ovation. God bless.

“Let us never forget the sacrifices of America’s military families.”

Had to quote that. (Applause)

6:30PM PST: Why liveblog when Reuters already is reporting as if the speech were over?

Bush laid down what might ultimately be conditions for U.S. relations with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that won a stunning victory in Palestinian elections last week.
. . .

Due to election-year realities, there were no sweeping proposals along the lines of his big
Social Security revamp, which fizzled after its high-profile roll-out a year ago.

In the televised speech before millions, he called for a bipartisan commission to study the solvency of the Social Security retirement system, as well as the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs.

Bush is seeking to boost his standing after a year in which his popularity hit an all-time low as the public grew increasingly concerned about the Iraq war, angry about high gasoline prices and disappointed by a influence-peddling scandal on Capitol Hill that has snared at least one Republican congressman.

But no biased reporting here…

6:35PM PST: Talking about surveillance…

“We will not sit back and wait to be hit again.” (Applause)

6:38PM PST: Nod to immigration…

“We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy even though this economy could not function without them. All these are forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction toward a stagnant and second-rate economy.”

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Dear W, the American people are concerned about and want a stop to illegal immigration. Big difference.

6:44PM PST: A house divided…

By 2030, spending for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid alone will be almost 60 percent of the entire federal budget. And that will present future Congresses with impossible choices: staggering tax increases, immense deficits or deep cuts in every category of spending.

Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security, yet the rising cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away, and with every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse. So tonight, I ask you to join me in creating a commission to examine the full impact of baby boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. This commission should include members of Congress of both parties, and offer bipartisan answers. We need to put aside partisan politics, work together and get this problem solved.

Applause divided across the aisle.

6:45PM PST: More on immigration…

Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds our laws, reflects our values and serves the interests of our economy. Our nation needs orderly and secure borders. To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. And we must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally and reduces smuggling and crime at the border.

Running defense:
Democrats on Bush: ‘There Is a Better Way’

And one day, maybe they’ll tell us…

Virgina Gov. Tim Kaine’s “response” e.g. rebuttal

7:27PM PST: Well delivered. As Newt Gingrich observes: “With dignity.”

Coverage:
White House provides excerpts

Bloggers:
Protein Wisdom
La Shawn Barber
Captain’s Quarters
GayPatriot

Bloggers Row in Washington, D.C.

Expose The Left
No End But Victory
Right Side Redux
Robert Bluey, Human Events Online - Right Angle
A Soldier’s Perspective
Tim Chapman, Townhall.com’s Capitol Report
NAM Blog
Drumwaster
Stop The ACLU

Open thread at Polipundit

MSM:
National coverage

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 31st, 2006 at 6:08 pm and is filed under Blogging, Domestic Policies, Foreign Policy, W. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.